Sunday, 30 December 2007

It's funny how I got suckered into an ad placed in our local newspaper... I was reading and saw this detox ad. Read on and got myself into the detox product website. I left the website running, hubby read about it. We discussed a bit on it and I was saying that I'm in bad shape - lack of exercise, long hours at work, body aching all over, forever feeling lethargic... you know the gist. Next thing I knew, I had a box sitting at my kitchen counter. So, that was how I got myself into a 7 days detox programme!

To cut long story short, I'm gonna document my experience of this programme on a day-by-day account of what I did and ate. I had wanted to start on Christmas Day after calculating the days needed before I get back to work but being the lazy me, I only opened the box and read the booklet in the morning. It was kinda late to get myself out to buy the fruits and vegetables (this spelt EXCUSES, no???)... yada yada so I only got on to the programme on 26 Dec.

I decided it is best to have this done when I'm at home since the detox product booklet mentioned that one may experience unpleasant short-term reaction in the first 3 days ie. mild diarrhoea, frequent urination, extreme fatigue, sleepiness, irritability, headache, nausea, vomitting etc!!!! Did they freak you out??? Actually there were more gross stuff but I decided not to put down here hehe...

Looking at the bright side, I was hoping to achieve at least 4-5 of these:

- increased energy and vitality

- regular bowel movement

- better digestion and elimination

- better immunity

- better sleep

- improved skin tone and radiance

- improved sense of well being and clearer mind

Pea did asked me if this programme will make one lose weight. The programme booklet did said one could but this is not a slimming programme. The weight lost was merely from old feacal matter in the intestines where one could accummulated up to 10-25 pounds of such waste. Anyway, losing weight is not my aim for this detox thingy. As I've told Pea, I do not own a weighing scale hence I won't be able to tell if I have lost any. She asked me to test by squeezing myself into the tightest skirt hahaha... ok Pea, I will do that, just for you.

The programme mentioned that it is not necessary to change one's diet during the 7-day period but since I'm on it, what the heck, I decided to somehow TRY to follow the eating plan. Not entirely but pretty close. *sobs* that means I had to drop any big makan plans which includes the floggers' Retro party on 28 December. Sorry guys but I just have to do this to flush out all the negatives and start anew eating my way to a healthier 2008.

The next few posts will see my day-to-day account of my experience. I will not name the detox product here as I'm in no position to endorse such product or programme to anyone. However, if you wish to know the name of the product, do drop me a line.

Thursday, 27 December 2007

I've made some Shortbread and Gingerbread (yikes they ryhmed :D) Cookies right before Christmas. I've used the recipes from Donna Hay's Modern Classics Book 2. I just loved this book! All the recipes in this book worked except for the cookies haha... well the dough turned out to be too soft, maybe due to our weather, just like the supposedly-to-be-star-cookies. I could have store them in the fridge for more than 4 hours before shaping but I just don't have the time. All I did have was a mere 30 mins.

Anyway, I cheated and dusted flour on the dough after rolling so that I can press out the cookies in the cutters. So as I went along... the batch towards the end came out rather hard. Sorry to the few of the recipients of these cookies :P

Tastewise, the shortbread was nice BUT the gingerbread smelt so great whilst baking! So Christmassy... The gingerbread cookies were a tad hardy but crunchy, kinda like it as I crunch along finishing the star.

Pre-heat oven to 160C. Process all ingredients in food processor (Ive used my mixer instead, worked as well) until a smooth dough is formed.

Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead gently.

Press mixture into a 20cm x 30 cm (8in x 12 in) slice tin lined with non-stick baking paper. Smooth the surface with the back of a spoon and score the top into long bars. Bake for 1 hour or until golden. Cool in tin. Slice along the score marks, makes 22 slices.

Or you can roll into balls, place on baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper and flatten slightly with a fork. Bake for 22-25 mins or until just golden brown.

Preheat oven to 190C. Place butter and sugar in bowl and beat with electric beaters until light and creamy. Add golden syrup, flour, ginger and baking soda and mix to form a smooth dough. Refrigerate for 10 mins or until dough is firm.

Roll out dough between sheets of non-stick baking paper to 4mm (1/4 in) thick. Cut out shapes from dough using cookie cutter. Place on baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper. Bake for 8-10mins or until golden brown. Cool on tray.

Tuesday, 25 December 2007

Menu For Hope 4 have so far raised USD90,191.00!!!! More than 29k over from previous year amount. Anyway, Chez Pim had extended this programme thru the weekend. So if you thought you were late but fret not, you can still do it. Please hurry and get your raffle tickets.

May the Joy and Peace of Christmas be with you now and throughout the new year.

Note: The recipes for Snowman and Christmas Tree Shortbread and Gingerbread Star Cookies as depicted will be coming up next.

Saturday, 22 December 2007

Just a quick update, if you wish to donate and get a raffle ticket, you still can do it! You have about 10 hours to do so. We have raised USD76,110.00 and we are USD15,184.88 over last year's amount!!!!

Wednesday, 19 December 2007

Total raised so far is $43,115.00, quite far from last year's US$62,925.12! You have 3 more days to go to buy your raffle tickets for Menu For Hope 4. Every USD10 will earn you a bid for the prizes and pledges gathered by the international food bloggers.

I'm pretty glad that there were quite a number of bids for the 3 items that I've put up. I did a quick check of the number of bids for them. As of now the count stands at:

Come on, I'm sure we can do better than this! We are hoping to generate at least 20 bids per item, so please help us feed the children.

To all my friends and readers whom have donated, a simple 'Thank You' would be an understatement for the magnanimity. Being a person who believes in 'paying forward', may you be blessed with abundance and may all your obstacles be pacified so that you will continue this journey for the highest good!

Wednesday, 12 December 2007

UPDATED 17 December 2007: Placed the code for ElcerdoUPDATED 16 December 2007

Prize Code: AP37 (I haven't got the code yet, so hang on there if you wish to bid for this)

I've received another sponsor, YAY!!! Chef Werner made a come back this year with a pledge of RM500 dining voucher at his porcine specialist restaurant Elcerdo. Elcerdo has since moved to a bigger premises offering nose to tail dining experience. An order of roasted suckling pig will bring you good luck by tossing the plate after cutting the pig up with it!

I managed to get Zuup Soup Bar, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, to sponsor 10 dinner sets worth 18+ per set. Now you can bring your family, mom, dad, grand aunt, uncle number 5, great grand uncle number 10, grand niece number 2, and your friends along for a great meal at Zuup! Zuup serves more than just soup - they also offer pasta, fried rice and noodles plus a great range of drinks and desserts. Whilst you're waiting for your meal, why not have a go on their complimentary PS2 consoles? Fun for everyone!

Prize Code: AP26

I'm offering a jarful (1.8l Forvar glass jar from Ikea) of my chocolate chips cookies choked with chocolate chips (I usually doubled the chips). They will come in assorted of almond, hazelnut, walnut, just plain and etc. For those of you who have been expressing your wish to try my goodies, now it's your chance to do so with a cause. This prize is available for self-collection in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia only.

OK at the moment I only manage to have 2 pledges. Watch this space for more *fingers crossed*.

I apologise for being late in promoting Menu For Hope 4 this year. Last year, we did very well by raising USD62,925.12 to support the UN World Food Programme. This year, it will be no different. For more information on who is the beneficiary this year, check what is Menu For Hope. It's something like a FAQ.

Due to my limited free time, I only managed to get very little sponsors this year round. Hopefully I will get more to join me in offering something for the cause. Will post that up once I get my prize codes later today.

Don't forget to drop by Chez Pim for the international round-up of prizes. There are a lot of attractive prizes including a personal tour of elBulli kitchen laboratory at the new Alícia Institute with Ferran Adrià himself, well you'll need to buy your own air ticket though!

2. Make a donation: each US$10 will give you one raffle ticket toward a prize of your choice. In the 'Personal Message' section in the donation form, please specify which prize or prizes you'd like, using the prize-code and detailing the number of tickets per prize you'd like to purchase. For example, a donation of US$50 can be 2 tickets for AP01 and 3 for AP02

3. For US donors, if your company has agreed to match your charity donation, please remember to tick the box and fill in the information so we may claim the corporate match.

4. Please make sure you tick the box to allow us to see your email address so we may contact you if you win. Your email address will not be shared with anyone.

5. Winners will be announced on Chez Pim in mid-January 2008.

With my hands clasped and brought close to my heart, on behalf of all your beneficiaries, I thank you in advance for your generosity and compassion.

Wednesday, 5 December 2007

Sorry for the long long silence. Been bogged down with work, lots of them with a very tight deadline. So this will be a short and brief post to keep me and this blog going.

One rainy nite, hubby and I got to Leisure Mall for dinner in order not to get drenched. Walked around, no idea what to have so we ended up in a place called Kopitiam Traditional. Yeah the name is just Kopitiam with a TM behind it but how to trademark “kopitiam”??

Anyway, glanced thru the menu and we ordered our food. Since this happened some time back, I can’t really recall what we have ordered and the prices but rest assured it’s very reasonable.

I think hubby had a deep fried chicken set of rice, one whole deep fried chicken thigh and fried egg. The set came with a choice of hot or cold drinks. I stole some bites of the crispy chicken and find the chicken is tasty and loved the sambal that came with it.